Despite speculation that the new voting system has diluted labour’s influence in deciding the next NDP leader, union bosses insist their members will play a significant role in shaping the future of the party.
According to Sid Ryan, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, moving to a one-member-one-vote system, which allows all 131,152 members of the NDP to cast their ballots independently, won’t change the fact many of those registered are union members.
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“In Ontario, we’ve got a million unionized workers, across the country’s we’ve got 3.2 million. We don’t all vote NDP, but some have joined the party and a good chunk will be voting, so that will have a massive influence,” he said, noting members will no doubt look to union leaders for guidance.
In past leadership races, unions were guaranteed a minimum 25 per cent of the vote. But the NDP eliminated that from its constitution after the last leadership convention, prompting some to argue the new system would make it less important to receive the endorsement of the trade unions that have been integral to the party since assisting in its founding a half century ago.
IN PHOTOS: NDP SIGHTS & COLOUR
But Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), says one-member-one-vote is more democratic and requires deeper involvement in the party in order to cast a ballot.
“Meaningful labour input into the NDP is absolutely essential,” he said. “The fact that we’re supporting different candidates here is more of a reflection of their talent and the diversity of opinion within the labour movement.”
LIVE BLOG: UPDATES FROM THE CONVENTION FLOOR
As Moist points out, labour issues were at the forefront of discussion on Friday, with many candidates mentioning the wildcat strike at Air Canada and the recent closure of Caterpillar’s Electromotive plant in London, Ont., after a bitter lockout.
“There’s no question we’re living in mean-spirited times. It’s tough times for working people,” he said. “Those struggles that workers are facing now kind of hover over this convention today, but I think they’ll motivate the new leader to take these issues Monday morning to the House of Commons.”
Convention Coverage, HuffPost Style: The Huffington Post Canada brings you comprehensive coverage of the NDP leadership convention in Toronto, with photos, behind-the-scenes video, opinion and reporting from the convention floor.Follow us at @HuffPostCanada, on our Ottawa Bureau Chief Althia Raj's Facebook Page, on our NDP leadership site, and on our politics page and our front page. Friday, we cover candidate speeches and a tribute to Jack Layton. Saturday morning, we follow the rounds of voting that will end with the new leader.
Ryan concurs, maintaining that, once a new NDP leader is selected, labour’s issues “will be central in the minds of the [Conservative government], who will try to use it to embarrass the NDP.”
“It’s up to the NDP with labour to turn that back on the Tories and say you’re really going after average voters,” adding that, in this sense, “labour may have a bigger influence than we think.”
But that doesn’t mean trade unionists are united behind a single candidate -- or that they aren't sharing their misgivings about candidates they oppose.
While both Moist and Ryan have thrown their support behind Peggy Nash, who is also the candidate of choice for the Canadian Auto Workers’ union, the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW) is backing Thomas Mulcair and the United Steelworkers is behind Brian Topp.
Ryan, for one, has been outspoken about his trepidation about Mulcair, who he says "doesn't have any roots in the labour movement, really."
That, however, didn't stop the president of the UFCW from taking to the stage on Friday to sing the praises of the candidate from Quebec, describing Mulcair as "a leader… who will make their lives a little easier and our country a better place to live."
NDP leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair speaks very quickly during his convention speech.
Mar 23, 2012 | Source: Keek.com
Peggy Nash's speech gets cut off at the NDP Convention.
Mar 23, 2012 | Source: Keek.com
LIVE FROM THE NDP CONVENTION FLOOR
Thank you for joining us. Lots to review here:
Convention Coverage, HuffPost Style: The Huffington Post Canada brings you comprehensive coverage of the NDP leadership convention in Toronto, with photos, behind-the-scenes video, opinion and reporting from the convention floor.Updates at @HuffPostCanada, on our Ottawa Bureau Chief Althia Raj's Facebook Page, on our NDP leadership site, and on our politics page and our front page.
DELEGATES LEAVE THE HALL
After a long two days, delegates file out of convention for good
Mar 24, 2012 | Source: Keek.com
| @ RyanPainterShow : It is AMAZING how quickly ppl have ALREADY written off @ThomasMulcair based on his first speech. You'll see, is all I have to say #ndpldr |
| @ alishasawhney : Muclair represents the new face of the NDP in Canadian politics. Was his lack of vigour in his speech just due to exhaustion? #ndpldr |
| @ seleross : I only have twitter over here. Terrible reviews of speech; no idea what was actually said. #ndpldr |
| @ tomhawthorn : No question. Fiasco of a victory speech by Mulcair. Wonder who'll tell him? #ndpldr |
| @ itsabbeyk : After 7 months of campaigning and 12+ hours of coverage on CBC, it's finally over and an ex-Liberal is leading the NDP. #ndpldr |
| @ freethephoenix : Wonderful speech, Mulcair!! And Congratulations!! Don't heed the haters :) We'll make Canada better for them, too. #ndpldr |
| @ RayCecile : Mulcair's speech didn't say anything about putting a sound policy in place that will help business' create jobs #cdnpoli #ndpldr |
| @ SimStr1 : No fire in @thomasmulcair. We need fire from the left and @ElizabethMay has it. We'll see who inspires youth! #ndpldr |
| @ ocean_raven : Rethinking my support of the NDP now that Mulcair is in the leadership role. I do not trust him. #ndpldr |
| @ evansolomoncbc : Thomas Mulcair says "in order to have first ndp fed govt our party must reach beyond traditional base" #cdnpoli #ndpldr |
| @ IvisonJ : "Our future is limitless, if we get our priorities right" - Mulcair. He made that line sound like he was ordering pizza. #ndpldr |
"From medicare to public pensions, these values are reflected in the institutions we built, institutions we risk losing under the polices of the current government."
| @ Snafulp : @HuffPostCanada There goes Jack Layton's dream and hardwork down the drain..This man is a wolf in sheep's clothing..I am so sad today |
"Democracy can't just mean the right to vote. Democracy must also mean .. knowing that your vote matters."
Mulcair: (paraphrased) The youth are so turned off by today's politics they won't vote. It's not that they don't care, it's that they don't trust their vote will make a difference.
Mulcair talks about the people he met in community centres across the country:
"The voices of those Canadians should not only be heard, they should be at the centre of our national agenda."
| @ rachelmendleson : Broadbrent joins Mulcair, other candidates on the stage #ndpldr http://t.co/qrY9yq5N |
To my mother, my mom, who with her brothers and sistgers is up north watching us, hello!
| @ althiaraj : Thomas Mulcair leaves bleechers to come give his speech to #ndpldr candidates http://t.co/8MiiVF0M |
It's no secret Thomas Mulcair has some unifying to do. Expect to hear much about this in the speech, which will happen momentarily
(CP) Montreal MP Thomas Mulcair has been chosen to succeed Jack Layton as leader of the federal NDP.
Mulcair claimed 57.2 per cent of the vote in a fourth-ballot victory over chief rival Brian Topp, who claimed 42.8 per cent.
The two front-runners were the last men standing after a day-long voting marathon that was plagued by online delays, the result of an attempted cyber-attack on the party's website.
Long-shot candidate Nathan Cullen persisted until the third ballot, outlasting rivals Peggy Nash, Paul Dewar, Niki Ashton and Martin Singh.
NDP solidarity cracks over role of unions in picking leader - The ...
Unions back NDP leadership candidates but hold little weight ...
Canada News: Unions to play smaller role in NDP leadership vote ...
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Posted: 03/24/2012 7:16 am Updated: 03/24/2012 5:30 pm